2019 Salon Today 200: Employee Education

Cindy Feldman, owner of Progressions Salon Spa Store in Rockville, Maryland, has some fun with the salon's mannequins.

For the most successful service providers, education is a career-long process. The strongest salons and spas develop educational systems that enhance the skills and confidence of their newest team members, while encouraging and supporting their seasoned staff to continually stretch creatively.

Lisa Garcia, co-owner of Bang Salon in Denver, Colorado.

Bang SalonDenver, CObangsalon.netRodger and Lisa GarciaSQUARE FEET: 3,000 TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 25AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $80TRAINING PROGRAM: 9-12 monthsBEST-SELLING RETAIL: Kerastase, Oribe, R+CoCOLOR: Wella SKINCARE: Oribe NAILCARE: R+Co TECH SUPPORT: STX, Demandforce, SureTint ASSOCIATIONS: Intercoiffure, PBA, Summit Salon“Each class we hold in the salon is given a point value. Stylists have to earn a minimum of 12 education points a year to reach the next level. This way, staff is able to pick and choose the classes they would like to attend.”

Clique SalonHouston, TXcliquesalon.comNatalie WoodSQUARE FEET: 1,800 TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 15AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $80TRAINING PROGRAM: 8 monthsEDUCATION $ PER PERSON: $2000BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Unite, Oribe COLOR: Paul Mitchell, Redken, OligoTECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Demandforce “Throughout the year we expect the team to attend at least two outside education events a year. We reward them for their attendance to outside education by giving them a day off and extra vacation hours for attending.”

The team from Clique in Houston, Texas.

Ian McCabe, owner of the Ian McCabe Studio in Washington D.C.

Ian McCabe StudioWashington, DCianmcccabestudio.comIan McCabeSQUARE FEET: 1,400 TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 20AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $150TRAINING PROGRAM: 12-18 monthsEDUCATION $ PER PERSON: $800BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Davines, Shu Uemura COLOR: Redken, Framesi, ClairolTECH SUPPORT: MillenniumASSOCIATIONS: Summit Salon“Colorists and stylists graduate and get promoted by rank through a level system. Each level is achieved based on workmanship, new clientele, sales and retention. At each level, employees are required to attend a certain number of classes and earn funding for professional development opportunities.”

Station 710 SalonBloomington, ILstation710salon.comMegan JenkinsSQUARE FEET: 2,000 TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 12AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $45TRAINING PROGRAM: 3 monthsBEST-SELLING RETAIL: Oribe, R+Co, AvedaCOLOR: Goldwell, Aveda, Pulp RiotSKINCARE: Aveda TECH SUPPORT: Millennium, Salon Clouds Plus “With our special education program called ‘Destination Education,’ a team member can earn a class in a location of their choice and bring another team member with them. They earn this reward by earning points through their numbers, retail, marketing, social media skills and being a team player.”

Lauren Hart and Sam Sciotto, owners of The Root Salon in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Root SalonPhoenix, AZtherootsalon.comLauren Hart and Sam SciottoSQUARE FEET: 1,800 TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 14AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $60TRAINING PROGRAM: 12 monthsBEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda, Alfaparf, Milano, ErgoCOLOR: Alfaparf, Redken, WellaSKINCARE: Aveda TECH SUPPORT: STX ASSOCIATIONS: PBA, Green Circle“The salon pays for half of whatever class a team member wants to take, as long as it is in line with the services we provide and the brands we utilize. We have multiple iPads in the salon and the team is encouraged to learn online during down time.”

For a salon or spa, mastering a number of best business practices frequently results in overall sales growth, which fuels the trajectory of the business. This year, the SALON TODAY 200 salons grew at a rate of 6% and above. Here's the first half of this year's Growth honorees.

Meet the 2019 SALON TODAY 200 honorees in the category of Retention and Referral Programs. These salons know that their ability to attract new guests can fuel their growth, but the ability to get those clients to return again and again determines their overall success.

The SALON TODAY 200 honors the salons and spa who create clear-cut rewarding career paths for their team members, offer attractive compensation packages and design benefits that address today's workforce needs.

Meet the 2019 SALON TODAY 200 honorees in Retail and Merchandising. These salons and spas know successful retail sales are the result of the entire team pulling their weight. Owners and managers plan promotions and create displays, service providers educate the client and make recommendations and the front desk closes the sales.

These SALON TODAY 200 honorees have mastered the intricate balancing act of inventory management--keeping enough product in house to keep the shelves full while avoiding typing cash flow unnecessarily.

The Salon Today 200 Technology honorees realize that embracing the latest software or tech tool is like adding a new manager to the team. Today's technologies keep schedules fully booked, motivate the team, recruit new clients and market to existing ones.

The SALON TODAY 200 category of Profit Center honors the salons and spas who tapped a new service category or product line that has made a positive impact on their growth and their bottom line. Borrow one of their ideas to grow your own business.

Salon Culture is that invisible yet tangible energy that binds a team, attracts clients and propels a beauty brand. These SALON TODAY 200 honorees tapped into the perfect mix for creating a salon culture.

On the 1st Day of the 12 Days of the SALON TODAY 200, we announce the honorees in the category of Philanthropy--those salons that realize leading with the heart and giving to others in their communities not only feels good, it can be a boost to business.

With a nod to family and community history and the traditional Japanese technique of Yakisugi, Garrison Neill creates Parker Barber in New Orleans, and ties for first runner-up in the 2018 Salons of the Year.

SALON TODAY challenged the 2018 class of the Salon Today 200 to send in fun team videos that give us a glimpse into their businesses and their cultures, and the results were so creative, we had to give away a few Oscars. Check out the compilation video